Without the 'Net, Life Goes On

The world instantly shrank when a young businesswoman we'll call Cindy found herself staring at a permanent "page not found" computer screen. It happened when Internet access for Cindy and the rest of Xinjiang, China's westernmost region, was cut in July. Since then, Cindy has had to run a small business without email, browsing or e-commerce.

Cindy is a Hong Kongese who relocated to Xinjiang. She's also living proof that a 20-something can survive outside of cyberspace. Moreover, she's still in business.

When the cutoff began "I thought vaguely about the next few months, wondering ‘how on earth?'" she said. "But it's really not all that bad.

"One positive aspect is I realize how much time I wasted on the Internet. It's true there are people I really need to keep in touch with, and it's hard to contact them without Internet. On the other hand, I realize how much time we waste searching for unnecessary things, chatting about nothing and reading silly articles.

"Of course, I feel even more disconnected from the world. No Internet means no emails, no ordering online, no Skype. If you're used to living with the Internet and it's part of your life, your mind needs a little time to filter what no Internet means.

"Here where I live, no Internet is really not a main topic of conversation, except among young boys who are bored out of their minds because they can't play videogames all day. Businesses that used the Internet are quite frustrated. If they have emails to send overseas, they have to fax the information to an office in Beijing, for example, and then someone in Beijing types it out and emails it on. I'm sure that creates a lot of problems and frustration. But when I ask local people about it, they just shrug their shoulders and say ‘It'll be nice when it's back.'

"Overall I think I am coping very well. I'm very busy, so the lack of Internet does not cross my mind even once a day. I have plans to set up a website, but not until later."